RPA uses digital bots, not physical ones

What is RPA?

When I first heard about Robotic Process Automation (or RPA), my thoughts went to the robotic arms in an auto factory, or some sci-fi movie where the robots outsmart the people and take over the world. In reality TechTarget.com defines RPA as “the use of software with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities to handle high-volume, repeatable tasks that previously required humans to perform.” Think of RPA as your personal assistant.

Many if not all of us have experienced RPA without knowing it … in the form of chatbots. They’re kind of annoying if you don’t want them. But if you need a question answered you can often get a quick response without the need for a human monitoring the homepage 24/7. The good news – RPA can do so much more than answer questions on a website.

Let your human workers do what humans do best: relate, strategize, and create. Let your digital workforce do the rest, 24/7/365. No vacation or major medical required.

The primary use for RPA we’ve seen so far is to eliminate mundane tasks that are necessary to run your business, but are below your team’s pay grade. The time you used to spend on these tasks can be refocused on interactions with customers and coworkers, solving more complex problems, and outmaneuvering your competition.

 

What RPA is NOT

RPA is not a new software that you need to implement. Instead, it sits on top of your current IT infrastructure, so you don’t have to integrate it with your existing software.

RPA is not something you have train your team to learn (unless you want to). And you don’t have to wonder if your team is going to embrace a new technology and buy into RPA to make it worth the cost. The purpose of your digital worker is to free up time, while leaving the rest of the software you use every day unchanged.

 

Is RPA Right For You?

If you have repetitive, rules-based processes that are currently taking time away from your employees and your ability to grow and stay competitive, Robotic Process Automation may be a technology worth exploring. It’s also a great option if you have extra steps involved in accessing your software or data.

Finally, if your company is in a growth or rehire mode, consider including a digital workforce. Let your human workers do what humans do best: relate, strategize, and create. Let your digital workforce do the rest, 24/7/365. No vacation or major medical required.


Brett Ridoux

 

Brett Ridoux is the Director of Sales for RoboSource. If you think RPA might be right for automating your business processes, email [email protected] for a free consultation. RoboSource is a licensed RPA vendor.